The soft blue glow of his phone screen lit the dim room, casting sleepy shadows across the posters on his wall and the tousled blankets of his unmade bed. Shin sat there cross-legged, slouched back against a pile of pillows, phone resting on one thigh, thumb hesitating above the screen.
Shin: "Hey. You asleep?"
Yuki had replied.
Yuki: "No."
Shin: "Cool. Just wanted to make sure the kiddo wasn't crying in bed."
Yuki: "I'm NOT a kiddo!!"
A soft laugh escaped his lips. It wasn't the usual smug one he used to charm or tease—it was quieter, like something tugged deep in his chest. He could still see Yuki's flustered face from earlier today in the cafeteria—his first day at this school. The way he stammered over his egg sandwich when Shin sat across from him without asking. That adorable tsundere tone. That pouty glare.
Shin: "Sure you aren't."
Yuki: "Why did you text me?"
It'd only been three days since they'd met—completely by chance, under the rain—and somehow, one afternoon had shifted something inside Shin. Today had been their first real encounter at school. And this? This was their very first message exchange.
He thumbed in a reply with a lopsided grin.
Shin: "Because I wanted to."
Send.
And instantly—regret.
His stomach twisted.
Yuki: "Wanted to say what?"
Shin: "Goodnight, Yuki."
Yuki: "Goodnight, Shin."
Groaning, Shin flopped backward onto his bed, one hand covering his face, the other still loosely holding the phone on his chest.
His chest was tight. Unfamiliar. Like his ribs were holding back something restless.
His door creaked open.
"Onii-chan?" came the soft voice of his younger sister. "You awake?"
Before he could say anything, Ai padded inside in her oversized T-shirt, belonged to Shin, hair up in loose twin buns, barefoot and sleepy-eyed.
"Yeah. I'm awake," he sighed, sitting up.
Without a word, she climbed onto the bed and, as always, settled herself directly in his lap—facing him, arms curling around his neck as she nuzzled under his chin. Her soft, pillowy chest pressed lightly against him, and she kissed his cheek with a faint "mmwah," as she always did.
"Hey," she murmured, voice dreamy. "You called?"
"Yeah…" he said, trying to calm the sudden heat rising in his face. "Can you take a picture of me? On my phone."
Ai blinked, tilting her head. "A picture? Like this?"
"Not with you wrapped around me, dummy," he chuckled, though he didn't push her away. "Just me. Lying down. Quick one. And anyways, we got a lot of photos like this."
She pouted, but slid off his lap, sitting beside him. "Why? You don't even like selfies."
Shin shrugged. "I'm not trying to look perfect. I just… want it to feel real."
"You're being weird," she said as she took his phone, then added with a playful squint, "Is it for that cute guy?"
He froze.
"…Sort of."
"Ohoho~," Ai giggled, eyes lighting up.
Shin gave her a flat look, but she just ignored it.
"Alright, Mr. Secret Crush. Lay back. Look like you're helpless and heartbreakingly cool or something."
Shin took the pose as Ai instructed him.
He fell back onto the pillow with a soft grunt. His bangs flopped over his forehead, shirt collar slightly askew, and one arm tucked lazily under his head. He stared at the ceiling—no pose, no smile, just a sleepy, smirky kind of look.
Ai raised the phone.
Then paused.
Her brows raised. "So hot. Did we really come from the same womb?"
"Just take the damn picture," Shin muttered, a flicker of pink rising in his ears.
Click.
She handed him the phone. "You're welcome. You look like a flirty rockstar after a nap."
Shin stared at the photo. He did look a little dazed—eyes heavy, hair messy, and collarbones peeking out.
And it was perfect.
He hesitated. Just a second.
Then sent it to Yuki.
The moment it was gone, he sat up fast, eyes wide. "Crap."
Ai blinked, startled. "What?"
"I sent it," he muttered, staring at the screen. "I actually sent it."
"To the guy?"
"Yes!"
He groaned and flopped back dramatically.
Ai scooted closer, wrapping her arms around him again. "Aww, Onii-chan~ don't panic," she whispered, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. "You're so cool and flirty and cute—he's gonna love it!"
"I look like a mess."
"A hot mess."
She cupped his face with both hands, gently caressing his cheek with her thumb. "You're nervous. That's kind of adorable."
He didn't respond. His heart was still racing.
"You like him, huh?"
"…Yeah."
Ai kissed his cheek again, snuggling closer. "You always protect me, you know? Like a hero. So I'm gonna protect your heart, too. Even if it means cheering from the sidelines."
He huffed a soft laugh.
Ping.
His phone buzzed.
He stiffened.
Ai gasped. "Was that him?"
Shin didn't reply. He grabbed the phone.
It was Yuki.
Two messages.
"Why would I want that?"
"You look dumb."
But he could see it.
He could see the blush on Yuki's face. The tsundere tone behind every word.
"Liar," Shin murmured, and his grin bloomed again.
He typed fast.
"You looked longer than I expected for someone who thinks I look dumb."
Then added, almost without thinking:
"Kinda cute, though."
And finally:
"Goodnight for real this time. Don't dream about me too much, kiddo."
The moment the last message sent, he covered his face again. "I'm insane."
Ai let out a dreamy sigh and cuddled even closer, nuzzling his chest, one arm across his stomach.
Her soft whisper was barely audible: "He's so lucky to be liked by my Onii-chan…"
Shin smiled faintly. "You're such a clingy brat."
"Yup," she said cheerfully. "And proud of it."
She kissed his cheek once more before resting her head on his shoulder. Slowly, her breathing softened.
She'd fallen asleep wrapped around him, like a small, sleepy koala with a steel grip.
He let her be.
He didn't mind. Ai was his little sister. His precious, annoyingly affectionate little sister. She thought the world of him. To her, he'd always been the hero—the strongest, the coolest, the most reliable. Even if he was losing his mind over a boy with sparkly eyes and a killer tsundere glare.
Shin stared at the ceiling, heart still thumping.
He couldn't stop thinking about Yuki.
About the blush he'd seen today. The way he peeked up under his lashes. The way his fingers curled around the sandwich like he was trying not to look interested.
This had only just started.
But he was already falling.
And he didn't want to stop.
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END OF CHAPTER : 6 : SHIN'S POV
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